Stromness

Stromness is a harbor town on the Orkney Islands with stone houses lining the sheltered waterfront, connected by narrow flagstone lanes that slope toward the sea. Multiple piers and slipways extend into the water, serving both fishing boats and larger vessels.

The settlement began as a Viking anchorage called Hamnavoe and grew into a major port during the 1600s when Hudson's Bay Company ships regularly stopped here. This maritime trade brought wealth and shaped the town's layout and architecture.

The sea shapes daily life here, with fishers and sailors moving through the narrow lanes as they have for centuries. Local traditions remain tied to maritime trade and the rhythm of tides and weather.

The town is accessible by bus and ferry, with regular connections to other parts of the Orkney Islands and to nearby smaller islands. The narrow streets are easy to walk, though some lanes slope steeply and can be wet from rain or sea spray, especially near the harbor.

Geologist Hugh Miller studied the local cliffs, which rise up to 150 meters high, and recorded his findings about ancient fossils in a book called 'The Footprints of the Creator'. Visitors can still see these same cliff faces today, with their layered rock revealing different periods of Earth's history.

Location: Orkney Islands

GPS coordinates: 58.96070,-3.29900

Latest update: December 20, 2025 03:07